Nutritional benefits of Banana

SEXY DIET
Because of their impressive potassium content, bananas are highly recommended by doctors for patients whose potassium is low. One large banana, about 9 inches in length, packs 602 mg of potassium and only carries 140 calories. That same large banana even has 2 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. No wonder the banana was considered an important food to boost the health of malnourished children! Those reducing sodium in their diets can't go wrong with a banana with its mere 2 mgs of sodium. For the carbohydrate counters there are 36 grams of carbs in a large banana. Vitamins and minerals are abundant in the banana, offering 123 I.U. of vitamin A for the large size. A full range of B vitamins are present with .07 mg of Thiamine, .15 mg of Riboflavin, .82 mg Niacin, .88 mg vitamin B6, and 29 mcg of Folic Acid. There are even 13.8 mg of vitamin C. On the mineral scale Calcium counts in at 9.2 mg, Magnesium 44.1 mg, with trace amounts of iron and zinc. Putting all of the nutritional figures together clearly shows the banana is among the healthiest of fruits. The plantain, when cooked, rates slightly higher on the nutritional scale in vitamins and minerals but similar to the banana in protein and fiber content.

Diet Plan

Why is banana so important ?

Bananas:

Containing three natural sugars - sucrose,

fructose

and glucose combined with fiber,

a banana gives

an instant, sustained and substantial

boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide

enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with

the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the

only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can

also help overcome or prevent a substantial

number of illnesses and conditions, making

it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken,

amongst people suffering from depression,

many felt much better after eating a banana.

This is because bananas contain tryptophan,

a type of protein that the body converts into

serotonin, known to make you relax, improve

your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana.

The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood

glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the

production of haemoglobin in the blood

and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high

in potassium yet low in salt, making it the

perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so,

the US Food and Drug Administration has

just allowed the banana industry to make

official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce

the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex)

school were helped through their exams

this year by eating bananas at breakfast,

break, and lunch in a bid to boost their

brain power. Research has shown that

the potassium-packed fruit can assist

learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the

diet can help restore normal bowel

action, helping to overcome the problem

without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a

hangover is to make a banana

milkshake, sweetened with honey.

The banana calms the stomach and,

with the help of the honey, builds up

depleted blood sugar levels, while

the milk soothes and re-hydrates

your system.
Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in

the body, so if you suffer from heartburn,

try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:

Snacking on bananas between meals helps

to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid

morning sickness.
Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream,

try rubbing the affected area with the

inside of a banana skin. Many people find

it amazingly successful at reducing swelling

and irritation.
Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help

calm the nervous system. Overweight and at

work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology

in Austria found pressure at work leads to

gorging on comfort food like chocolate

and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital

patients, researchers found the most

obese were more likely to be in high-pressure

jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid

panic-induced food cravings, we need to

control our blood sugar levels by snacking

on high carbohydrate foods every

two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food

against intestinal disorders because of

its soft texture and smoothness. It is

the only raw fruit that can be eaten

without distress in over-chronicler

cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity

and reduces irritation by coating the

lining of the stomach.
Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as

a "cooling" fruit that can lower both

the physical and emotional temperature

of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for

example, pregnant women eat bananas

to ensure their baby is born with a cool

temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because

they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking:
Bananas can also help people trying to

give up smoking. The B6, B12 they

contain, as well as the potassium and

magnesium found in them, help the body

recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps

normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen

to the brain and regulates your body's

water balance. When we are stressed,

our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing

our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced

with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes:
According to research in "The New England

Journal of Medicine, "eating bananas

as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of

death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear

that if you want to kill off a wart, take a

piece of banana skin and place it on the

wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully

hold the skin in place with a plaster or

surgical tape! So, a banana really is a

natural remedy for many ills. When

you compare it to an apple, it has four

times the protein, twice the carbohydrate,

three times the phosphorus, five times the

vitamin A and iron, and twice the other

vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in

potassium and is one of the best value

foods around. So maybe its time to change

that well-known phrase so that we say,

"A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"